by Jasmine BautistaDietetic Intern
Food banks usually serve as a collection place for canned food. Yet,
through the years, food banks have evolved beyond addressing the issue
of hunger simply with a can of pork and beans. Meeting the nutritional
needs and enhancing the nutrition knowledge of donation recipients have
become greater missions. Food banks throughout the nation no longer
limit efforts to providing general sustenance; they are also looking to
provide quality nutrition to those who are most in need.

Despite our civilization, the ancient practice of gleaning has
continued to thrive. Historically, farmers would collect a portion of
their crops before and after the harvest and give these extras to the
needy. Recently, this custom has transformed into a joint effort
between farmers and local food banks. Professional farmers and backyard
harvesters offer up their excess harvest that would have been otherwise
wasted. With the help of community volunteers, up to 1,000 pounds of
fresh fruit or vegetables can be collected on any given day. The fresh
produce is then brought directly to local food banks or main
distributors such as Feeding America, which serves more 200 food banks.

Feeding America, formerly known as America’s Second Harvest, provides
more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products every year. As
a result of the program’s successful brainchild, the National Produce
Program, fresh produce has become the primary category of distributed
food. In 2005, 311 million pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables were
provided throughout the network of food banks. An average of 2.2
million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables are delivered weekly.

The LCFB serves as a clearinghouse of food donations to local agencies
such as Emergency Relief, shelters for homeless or battered women,
community kitchens, and food pantries. However, the job does not stop
there. In a tag-team effort, these organizations feed and educate
low-income children and their families through two major nutrition
education programs: Kid’s Café and the Backpack Buddy Program.

The concept of the Kid’s Café was born late one night in 1989 in
Savannah when two young brothers were found searching for food in their
housing project’s community center. The program supplies free balanced
meals and snacks to children at different venues, public schools,
churches, the YMCA, and the Boys & Girls Club.

LCFB and local agencies blend both nutrition and after-school tutoring
to mold healthy minds. The Backpack Buddy Program was conceived by an
Arkansas rice depot after receiving continual requests for help from a
school nurse, because so many students were complaining of stomach
aches and dizziness caused by hunger. This program gives discrete
backpacks filled with non-perishable groceries and fresh produce to
low-income children to take home to their families.

Not only is combating hunger over the weekend a major program
objective, but so is instilling the importance of healthy eating at a
young age. Before the 175 backpacks are handed out each Friday, the
children are taught a short nutrition lesson on topics ranging from
different food groups to serving sizes to physical activity. This
information also is placed in the backpacks to encourage families to
learn along with their children throughout the school year.

Hunger has always been the primary call of the needy. Food banks are
beginning to realize that it is not enough to simply alleviate hunger
pains. They have realized that the marginalized deserve optimal
nutrition just as much as those who can afford it. By providing fresh
and nutrient-dense foods as well as lessons in healthy eating, food
banks are advocating the overall growth of the body and mind of every
individual.

Friday, Dec. 19, 2008

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